Urk Reviews... James Doppler 31-Jan-15

[Urkelbot666]

First Impressions:

From the crudely digitized and edited imported photo that is the title screen, coupled with the comically long name of the game, you can tell you're in for a silly experience, and that's fine with me. I'm no RPG purist.

After starting a new game, I was introduced to the titular (if that word makes you giggle, this may be a game for you!) hero, James Doppler. A man who is a perfect-in-every-way stoner-type, and who likes the movie Dune (who doesn't?). I was also informed that the backstory here involves a possible conflict between fans of the Sci-Fi genre, and the fantasy genre, who are at each other's throats, and can find no common ground. Since the massive popularity of movies and books including Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Star Trek, The Avengers (among other Marvel movies) in addition to various animé series, I didn't realize this was really much of a conflict these days.

Anyway, Mr Doppler receives a phone call which is interrupted by the NSA, who informs him that perpetuating his public views regarding Sci-Fi/Fantasy crossover will get him into trouble with the government. James decides to do something about this and get some info, so he grabs his sword and sets out.

The text and dialogue up to this point is serving its purpose, providing exposition about the story, and popping a few jokes in. A few of the jokes hit for me, and many didn't. The graphics to this point are passable, some standard RPG type house imagery, and some stylized portraits.

Gameplay

We set out to find a wizard named Rex who lives in the forest outside the incredibly sparse town comprised of 2 or 3 houses and the shop, the "slime-Shack" all connected by dirt paths. When we leave our house, we are assaulted by some kind of drones (sent by the NSA I believe).

A battle ensues with a crudely drawn, and small looking Hero sprite fighting nearly unidentifiable enemies, looking like a few colored pixels. The battle is slow, and i was just holding down space, prompting repeated slash attacks all accompanied by the witty caption "You're looking...sharp...today." I already want a new weapon.

After beating the enemies, I set out to find the wizard, Rex at his house in the woods (complete with a floor... and um... a stat restoring bong... and, that's it). After meeting him, the two exchange insults at great length, and Rex send you on a fetch quest for mushrooms for a potion. Hmmm... I bet those mushrooms aren't for a potion... we'll see.

I found the mushrooms and gave them to Rex who immediately (after some more dialogue)sent me on another quest to get beer from the shop. I
guess this is to familiarize the player with the town? Oh and guess what? Those mushrooms? MAJOR SPOILER! Turns out they WEREN'T for a potion after all!! Oh man! Lol! Rex eats em' and starts tripping.

Got the beer and came back, talk to Rex, more hallucination jokes (a few giggles) and decide to go visit the only other person who lives in this town, who is apparently an unintelligent lady of the night. Visit her, (a move up from Rex's place, Her one room house has a bed, and a dresser! Also pink walls, because vagina) and immediately engage in a long session of intercourse. This results in a THIRD fetch quest to get pain meds for the woman whose body is in tremendous pain as a result of her intercourse with James. Got the meds. Go back, and berate the woman, then go back to Rex. I hope it's another fetch quest!

I went back and talked to Rex for what seemed like ages. I don't really remember what we talked about, other than that James Doppler will be a very important man in the future and that Rex joined the party. This is good as maybe the one random enemy encounter that I keep hitting won't take 6 turns of holding down space.

I don't know what's going on, but there's pretty much only one way to go. walk through the forest, some yellow circle tells me to go on another fetch quest (all of these seem to cost money as well) to a Juggalo drug dealer. Some more dialogue, Rex impregnated the dealer's girlfriend so now he wants to fight! Oh boy, a boss fight, I wonder what kind of cool stuff will happen in this battle!... End of demo.

In Closing:

I can certainly see why some folks will dig this game and its sense of humor. Stoner/Slacker humor will never really go out of style. However, This game just wasn't for me. There was pretty much zero entertaining gameplay, fighting was boring, so far, everything seems to just be mini quests to get items (that cost money) that you promptly give away.

I can deal with some lackluster gameplay if the story, dialogue, sound and visuals are pleasing. I can pretty much enjoy most games if a few of those areas are okay. I didn't really feel like "Doppler" delivered in those areas. The story is alright, and seems like it might get fun, but it isn't yet. I didn't find any of the characters likable, nor very interesting. I don't like playing as James Doppler, and don't care to get to know him, he seems like a tool. The graphics came across largely as lazy, the sound was kind of the same, only a few songs and sfx.

The writing didn't hook me in, like I think it may others. I'm not really offended by the crude, low brow, stoner humor. I just didn't find it very funny. Currently the game is banking solely on its humor and dialogue, and I worry that the entire game, when completed, is just going to play like a long drawn out joke with a flat punchline. I hope some people give this game a shot, and enjoy it. I may come back to try it again after many, many, many updates.